When To Hire A Speech Coach

by Speaking Tips | November 10, 2003

Few people know that there are professionals whose business it is to help them further
their communication goals. While it is true that most of us could probably get by without
turning to a speech coach, this may not always be the right choice. In the best case, your
speech or presentation will likely come accross as a well researched but amateur attempt
while the worst case scenario is not something any of us would really want to contemplate.

As we all know, the best preparation for delivering a speech or presentation is to
practice it in a forum that enables us to recive quality, constructive feedback. However,
many people are too embarrassed to ask friends and colleagues for such feedback. This is
actually a good thing because unless we are already accomplished speakers, the chance of
our circle of acquaintances containing someone with the appropriate coaching skills is
vanishingly small. Organizations such as Toastmaster clubs can provide an excellent
forum for developing basic skills and techniques and should certainly not be igmored, but
for most of us engaging a speech coach may be the best choice.

Hiring a professional speech coach is something anyone who speaks on a regular basis
should seriously comtemplate. Even accomplished speakers can benefit from coaching since
preparation for one speaking engagement is not necessarily preparation for another
(giving a lecture is different from delivering a eulogy for example). There are far too
many and too varied opportunities for most professionals to have their communication
skills so well-honed that they are ready for any presentation situation they might
encounter. You may even want to consider getting some professional coaching for a
one-off speaking assignment if the stakes are high enough for you or your organization.

When To Hire A Speech Coach

Before you start looking for a speech coach, pinpoint your reasons and objectives for
doing so. This will help you focus and select the best person for your needs. Some of
your objectives might be to:

Add polish to existing basic skills

Gain high-level stage skills

Establish a commanding presence

Learn to be yourself

Master how to tell your personal stories

Help organizing presentation material

Improve your voice and vocal production

Relax and use gestures

Add humor

Learn to work with technology

Prepare to be video taped

Develop media skills

Present before an international audience

Speak when the audience is unseen (radio and TV)

Be interviewed on TV

Run for public office

Handle a press conference

Deal with an hostile audience

Persuade the audience to specific critical action

Improve your visuals

Stand out over your competition

Important Considerations

To locate a speech coach, use search techniques similar to finding any expert - check
the yellow pages, surf the net and seek for recommendations from your friends and
colleagues. Try calling the speech and drama department of your local college or
university. Be aware that speech coaches use several different titles such as speech
coach, speech consultant and communications consultant.

Speech coaches may charge by the hour or by the project. A good speech coach will be able
to quickly identify areas where you can improve and achieve results fast. You can aid the
process by taking the time to self-diagnose yourself and communicating where you believe
you can improve before you meet with your coach. This will allow the coach to prepare
in advance and consequently save them time and you money.

Some people feel sensitive about their accents. Through a series of drills, a speech
coach can make selected modifications in pronunciation but more importantly show that
accents are part of a person's persona and not necessarily an impediment to audience
understanding. Plus unanticipated language constructions often evoke humor.

In summary ...

A speech coach can provide individual attention that is focused on your specific
development needs. Coaching is private, fast, results oriented and need not put too
great a strain on your bank balance. You should view hiring a speech coach as an
investment in your professional development. You will come away with polish, refinement,
encouragement, sophisticated feedback, confidence in new situations, better presentation
skills, and a new dimension added to your communication portfolio.

About the Author

Speaking-Tips.com is one of the web's best-known resources for learning public speaking and presentation skills.